Ireland’s Long Distance Trails

Why not explore Dingle’s breathtaking scenery? With its ancient neolithic sites, delicious cuisine, traditional Irish music, impressive beaches and colourful Irish characters. It is one of Ireland’s most famous long-distance trails.

The Dingle Way hugs the coastline of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. Technically, the trail begins in Tralee but it can be busy so we recommend starting in Camp.

Dingle Town is the “cosmopolitan” centre of the peninsula. It is home to some truly great pubs and eateries, and it also has some of the best Irish traditional music in all of Ireland.

On this trail, you will take in some of Ireland’s most extraordinary beaches. Whether it’s the popular Inch Beach, the quaint Ventry beach, the dramatic Wine Strand or the sandy tombolo of the Maharees. You are spoilt for choice!

While mostly flat, the route offers the chance to climb at least one mountain as it takes you over the saddle of the remarkable Mount Brandon. Another option is Mount Eagle.

Stand at the edge of Slea Head, Ireland’s westernmost point, and gaze out at the vast Atlantic.

Cultural highlights also abound – from the ruins of Minard Castle to the clohans or beehive huts near Slea Head, the Dingle Way offers plenty in the way of ancient sites. Off-trail but nearby is the astounding Galarus Oratory stone church.

Ireland’s premier way-marked trail, the Wicklow Way was established in 1980, designed to take in the very best of Wicklow. This route starts in Dublin, which is convenient for arrivals into the country and is also a great way to soak up a bit of big city culture before heading out into the countryside. (A walking tour of the city is a fab way to get a taste of Dublin, and a nice pre-hike dinner at one of Dublin’s best restaurants is the perfect way to start your trip).

At 127 kilometres long, the Wicklow Way can be done in five or six days. Enjoy rural pubs and the warm hospitality of the Irish countryside. Visit the iconic Glendalough monastic site, once a great centre of learning in Ireland, to get a taste of medieval life on the Emerald Isle. Visit the lavish Powerscourt Estate and its award-winning gardens – not to mention a huge cascade. Wander the gardens and view the falls and then warm up with a cuppa in the mansion where you can marvel at its elegant decor.

The trail wanders through some of the quieter sections of the Wicklow Mountains, offering the chance to enjoy Wicklow National Park without the day-trippers. Cast your eyes upon the so-called ‘Guinness Lake’ (named for the family? Or the fact that some say it resembles a pint of the famous drink!), meander through tranquil glacial valleys and lush forests. Head off-trail to hike up additional summits like Djouce Mountain or the iconic conical Sugarloaf. One night, you might even get the chance to stay in a deluxe-grade eco-lodge!

The Wicklow Way is perfect for those looking for a shorter long distance way, and its starting point in Dublin is convenient.

The Causeway Coast is quite possibly one of Ireland’s most famous spots. The trail hugs the northern coast of the island. Spanning 52 km (33 miles), this route is shorter than either the Dingle or Wicklow ways, but it is just as special.

The trail technically runs from Belfast to Derry but the really spectacular sections are really along the Antrim coast in the second half of the trip.

From Game of Thrones to The Chronicles of Narnia, this wild area has inspired many a fantasy film or novel. The Giant’s Causeway itself is home to a vibrant myth involving competitive giants throwing rocks (and insults) across the sea, resulting in a colourful scene in which a quick-thinking giant housewife disguises her husband as a baby to outwit (and scare off) his rival.

A visit to the wild 40,000 interlocking basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway is by far the highlight of the Causeway Coast, but there are many other stunning sites to behold. Castles like the cliff-top Dunluce Castle or the half-fallen Dunseverick Castle set the scene. The quaint little Ballintoy Harbour or the popular Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge offer variety. Pretty beaches like Portrush and Portstewart (overlooked by the bizarre Mussendun Temple), as well as a host of other cliffs, beaches, and seaside paths, offer scenic coastal views.

Our favourite part is the walk from Dunseverick Castle to Portballintree (with a detour to visit Bushmills, home to Ireland’s oldest distillery of the same name, for a tour and pick-me-up of delicious whiskey!)

The Kerry Way is another of southwest Ireland’s most popular routes. The Kerry Way traverses the Iveragh Peninsula (home to the world-famous Ring of Kerry). Largely following the coast combined with some inland walks, the Kerry Way takes in some of Ireland’s most iconic scenery.

Most visitors to this region speed by in car or bus, glimpsing the stunning Kerry mountains and coastlines from moving car windows and occasional pauses. The Kerry Way offers a very different experience – hikers who choose to do the entire trail generally take nine days from start to finish, offering ample time to explore this beautiful place.

The Iveragh Peninsula is home to some of Ireland’s largest peaks, including Carrauntoohil, the island’s highest summit. The Kerry Way does not traverse these peaks – instead, the trail skirts the lower reaches of Kerry’s mountains. While getting hikers off-road, do expect some road walking too.

The trail passes through a variety of villages and landscapes. Weaving through a few pockets of the Gaeltacht, visitors might be lucky enough to hear the Irish language being spoken. Starting in the busy centre of Killarney, this is your chance to enjoy a variety of pubs, live music and a choice of dozens of restaurants before setting out into the quieter stretches of the peninsula. One such place is the Black Valley, one of the very last places in Ireland to be connected to the electric grid and offering a proper sense of wild places.

Other towns of note are the lovely town of Kenmare, sitting on the shores of Kenmare Bay, and Sneem (don’t be fooled by its name – it can be a lovely place!). Do know that the way-marked route follows the bay but will also involve some road walking.

In between, enjoy everything from the crashing waters of Torc Waterfall, open bogland and lush forest paths to lakeside and coastal paths from Killarney’s lakes and Kenmare Bay, beautiful glacial valleys, ruins of historic churches and stone forts, the foothills of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range, and views over sites such as Purple Mountain and even out to the Dingle Peninsula.

The challenge with this route lies in the logistics – there are limited services available along the route, which can be difficult considering the popularity of the Kerry Way.

One of Ireland’s lesser-known long distance trails, the Western Way traverses Connemara and Mayo. Running from the quaint town of Oughterard in Galway through Maum, the Inagh Valley before winding past Killary Harbour, weaving through Killala and terminating in Bunnyconnellan near the Sligo border, this is one of Ireland’s under-rated long distance paths.

The Western Way crosses through the Nephin Begs, possibly the most remote corner of Ireland. Some of the highlights include Lough Corrib, the ancient pilgrimage route of Maum Éan and its associated sites, the majestic shores of Killary fjord, the foothills of Croagh Patrick mountain – Ireland’s holy mountain, the Sheffrey Hills – one of Ireland’s most overlooked wild places, the buzzing market town of Westport, open bogland, wild mountains, and various historical sites along the way.

While not currently one of our offered trips in its entirety, we can also offer this route as a private tour guided or self guided.